What didn't you bring here that you wish you had...?

[Bad_azz]

My parents have both passed away, but back when I was young we did not get along particularly well. When they were living in the Northeast United States and I was in Jakarta, sometimes people would ask me why I moved to Indonesia. My answer (only half joking) was, "Because it is as far away as I can get from my parents and still be warm."

Awww pusp,that made me feel sad- sending a big hug xx

 

[Balilongtime]

Being an ex carpenter and building contractor .., I wish I had ; My complete extensive range of top tradesman quality tools (from building to mechanical) which 10 years later on I am still hoping to one day ship over,

I'm sick to death trying to 'make do' (and botching things LOL) with a cheap crappy multi wrench and a saw that should belong in a Childs pretend tool kit.

 

[Scooterindo]

Being an ex carpenter and building contractor .., I wish I had ; My complete extensive range of top tradesman quality tools (from building to mechanical) which 10 years later on I am still hoping to one day ship over,

I'm sick to death trying to 'make do' (and botching things LOL) with a cheap crappy multi wrench and a saw that should belong in a Childs pretend tool kit.

I am also a bit of a tool nut, I had a very impressive range of both contraction and mechanics tools. When I left the UK to go back packing around Australia I put them into storage in my dads garden shed - one thing led to another (as it usually does) and after being away 20 years I was visiting my parents in the UK, Dad decided to have a sort out of the shed "to see what I wanted to keep" after 20 years in a damp leaky shed they had all turned to a lump of solid rust. Totally heartbreaking as I had built the collection up over years and it cost a lot of money. Heartbreaking because we ended up throwing 98% of it away.

 

[Puspawarna]

I am also a bit of a tool nut, I had a very impressive range of both contraction and mechanics tools. When I left the UK to go back packing around Australia I put them into storage in my dads garden shed - one thing led to another (as it usually does) and after being away 20 years I was visiting my parents in the UK, Dad decided to have a sort out of the shed "to see what I wanted to keep" after 20 years in a damp leaky shed they had all turned to a lump of solid rust. Totally heartbreaking as I had built the collection up over years and it cost a lot of money. Heartbreaking because we ended up throwing 98% of it away.

That's a different twist to a common story. My version is the more typical expat one: when my husband and I moved abroad, we were still fairly young, and attached to our beloved, inexpensive belongings - the classic items being sturdy plastic milk crates; cinderblock and plywood for shelves; and framed posters of famous art.

We couldn't take it all with us, so we put a lot of our belongings in storage. At first, the employer paid for US storage, so it was an easy choice to make. Later our benefits changed and we had to pay ourselves for storage, but we were certain everything was worth it.

You know how this story ends, don't you? After about 12 years, we finally had an opportunity to take our stuff out of storage and move it into a house back home. Ninety-eight percent of what we unpacked caused us to shriek, "We paid to store THIS piece of junk for the past decade?!?!!"

Most of what we'd stored ended up at the Salvation Army.

 

[nosox]

Being an ex carpenter and building contractor .., I wish I had ; My complete extensive range of top tradesman quality tools (from building to mechanical) which 10 years later on I am still hoping to one day ship over,

I'm sick to death trying to 'make do' (and botching things LOL) with a cheap crappy multi wrench and a saw that should belong in a Childs pretend tool kit.

Another tool nut here. I sold my bigger stuff and most of the electric saws etc but could not bear to part with my Craftsman pro drill. Most of my mechanical tools came with me in the vague hope anewspaper may need a service guy..... I am also the proud owner of one of those kiddy saws, which seems incapable of cutting in a straight line

 

[Jaime C]

I miss Costco, Chickfila and Five Guys.

 

[harryopal1]

Davita,
With the advantage of hind sight and a bit more money we would all be millionaires. In 1969 I visited Quorn in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia. What had once been a thriving inland centre was bypassed when the rail line was shifted. I could have bought a 3 storey, solid brick building in the centre of the town for $300. Didn't have $300. In 1983 I bought a small house with a matching bit of land in Port Melbourne for $35,000. Sold it in 92 for $103,000. Today the median price is about $800,000 and more.
Ahh well, Davita I am sure there were many much more savvy, rich people around but they have died of heart attacks and strokes. At least we are above ground.

 

[Davita]

Davita,

Ahh well, Davita I am sure there were many much more savvy, rich people around but they have died of heart attacks and strokes. At least we are above ground.

True but Hugh Hefner is also wealthy, cool...and still alive at age 90. I've always wanted to emulate him but I've only got ten more years to catch-up. There's never enough time to do all we want to do...

 

[kimdub]

I miss Costco, Chickfila and Five Guys.

Totally agree.

And I would add Home Depot, great pizza and BBQ.

 

[macvert]

True but Hugh Hefner is also wealthy, cool...and still alive at age 90. I've always wanted to emulate him but I've only got ten more years to catch-up. There's never enough time to do all we want to do...

just look for the dude in the dressing gown laying on a deckchair at Pantai Seminyak .....

 

[waarmstrong]

Is Home Depot selling pizza now?

 

[Davita]

Is Home Depot selling pizza now?

Actually they do!...at least the one I recently visited in Vancouver had a restaurant inside which sold hot-dogs, pizza, fries, pastries and beverages. I think Home Depot has changed to be more female attended and the furniture/appliance sections and facilities reflect that....but the industrial/construction side is still its bread and butter.

 

[Davita]

just look for the dude in the dressing gown laying on a deckchair at Pantai Seminyak .....

hehehe...if he's sipping chilled Dom Perignon with a bevy of beauties fanning him, it's probably Hefner...if gobbling Bintang, oggling chicks and sweating...probably me.

 

[waarmstrong]

Actually they do!...at least the one I recently visited in Vancouver had a restaurant inside which sold hot-dogs, pizza, fries, pastries and beverages. I think Home Depot has changed to be more female attended and the furniture/appliance sections and facilities reflect that....but the industrial/construction side is still its bread and butter.

Not the "men's mall" anymore, I guess. Is nothing sacred?

 

[Davita]

Not the "men's mall" anymore, I guess. Is nothing sacred?

Remember when Rosie O'Donnel was asked to say something Lesbionic and she replied "Home Depot!" ...Yup....it's all downhill my friend.
At least they haven't YET got transgender free community toilets....which I understand is legislated in some States.
I really don't fancy standing in line for women to do their business...I have a weak bladder and my hypertension medicine includes a diuretic substance....

On 2nd thoughts maybe that's why Hefner wears a dressing gown...to cover up his neo-bladder bag. As I recently recovered from Colon tumor surgery, which has given me a ventral hernia......I should consider this dressing gown idea.
Good thinking Hef....you're the MAN.

I should have brought a dressing gown when I came to Indonesia...but I'm used to wearing a sarong.

 

[Puspawarna]

At least they haven't YET got transgender free community toilets....which I understand is legislated in some States.

Wanna know something horrible? When I have parties, the guest bathroom in my house is (a) free; (b) used by people regardless of gender. I'm American, though, so such shocking lapses of protocol are to be expected.

 

[Bad_azz]

Ah yes, I forgot to pack my blatant-sexism cyber-shield, ... didn't really think I'd need it in this forum though, ya know : mixing with educated intelligent beings that try not to be too offensive in their diatribe.

 

[Davita]

Wanna know something horrible? When I have parties, the guest bathroom in my house is (a) free; (b) used by people regardless of gender. I'm American, though, so such shocking lapses of protocol are to be expected.

I'm imagining your guest bathroom also has a urinal so both can use simultaneously...that would be a uniquely fun party....and no waiting to pee.

Ah yes, I forgot to pack my blatant-sexism cyber-shield, ... didn't really think I'd need it in this forum though, ya know : mixing with educated intelligent beings that try not to be too offensive in their diatribe.

I'm sure there's a reason why Victoria's Secret doesn't carry any product for men nor provide any seats...and why they remodeled the Galleria Mall in Bali so that store has the best location, replacing a 'yummy' Bread Talk....but I'm not intelligent enough to figure that yet.

 

[John_Oates]

Good quality earplugs, although the cheap, disposable ones online are doing ok. That and a big supply of multi vitamins - they are just too expensive here.

 

[tihzho]

At least they haven't YET got transgender free community toilets....which I understand is legislated in some States.

The solution is obvious; use the handicap toilet (Accessible toilet) which is gender free and are required in public areas in the US.

Every mall, department store and public toilets I've seen in the US all have at least one handicap toilet (Accessible toilet) along with the Male and Female toilets.